FAO raises alarm over food poisoning in Lagos, Kano, other cities

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), an agency of the United Nations, has raised the alarm over what it described as worrisome levels contamination of foods in Lagos and Kano states.

FAO said that a “Total Diet” study is carried out in two major Nigerian cities, Lagos and Kano showed various levels of contamination of foods at the point of consumption.

Speaking at an event jointly organised by the Federal Ministries of Health and Agriculture, to mark 2019 World Food Safety Day in Abuja, the Country Representative of FAO in Nigeria, Suffyan Koruna said that street foods were now being consumed more than ever before, adding that Nigerians eat at least one meal out of home in restaurants, bukkas and other food vendors.

The FAO country representative who was represented by Mr. Alphonsus Onwuemeka said the organisation conducted a diet study in Lagos and Kano where it discovered rampant unsafe food consumption.

He said: “A Total Diet Study carried out in Lagos and Kano states showed worrisome levels of contamination of foods at the points of consumption with aflatoxins, mycotoxins, heavy metals such as lead and pesticides residues. This should re-awaken Nigeria to the looming health challenges and economic losses that could result from a lack of attention to food safety,” he said.

Onwuemeka said there was a likelihood that similar cases of food contamination exist in other major cities across the country.